Electrolier.



B. A. VSTOWE.

ELEGTROLIER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1908.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. A. STOWE.

ELEGTROLIER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1908.

949 946, Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEiZT 2.

was s'ra'rns en rant" BERNARD A. STO'WE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOTHE JANDUS ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OI-IIO.

nnno'rnonlnn.

ease re.

Specification of Letters l'fatent. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed August 15, 1908. Serial No. 448,667.

.of an electric switch adapted to be incorporated in an electrolier orthe like. The object of thus combining in the electrolier structure theswitch, whereby the lamp supported by such structure is con trolled, isto overcome the disadvantages more fully ointed out later resident inthe provision of switches for controlling such lamps at stations removedtherefrom. At the same time, it will be seen that I preserve the'neatand artistic effect desired in such electroliers.

To the accomplishment of these and related ends said lnvention consistsof means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth indetailcertain means embodying the invention, such disclosed means,however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 represents in side elevation anelectrolier supporting a well known type of are electric lampl1'1,'Wl1lCh electrolier has been incorporated my improved type ofswitch; Figs. 2- and 3 are inside views of the switch structure byitself in its disassembled condition; and Fig. 4 is a side elevationillustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring first of all to the switch construction shown in Fi s. 2 and 3it may be stated that the speci 0 type of switch A. em loyed is theordinary one with a rotatab e button a" that is adapted in successiverotative positions to alternately make and break the connection betweenthe conductor terminals. Such rotatable switch I propose to o erate bymeans of a pawl and ratchet.

mec anism A shown in' the second of the two figures named. Such pawl andratchet mechanism is in turn operated by means of a cord, or preferablya fine chain A", bythe pulling of which a definite amount of rotation isimparted to the switch such as is adapted alternately to effect thedesired electrical connection and to thereupon break the connection thusmade. This switch and switch controlling mechanism I incorporate in theelectrolier structure as follows: It is quite general to suspend theelectric lamp, whether a cluster of incandescent bulbs or a single arclamp, as illustrated by means of a hollow tube B extending downwardlyfrom the ceiling of the room, wherever such light is to be used. Suchtube -B may be secured in any'approved fashion to the ceiling, there?being usually provided an inverted cap 72 that conceals the manner ofattachment as well as the lead wires to the lamp. Such wires are thencarried down to the lamp B within hollow tube 13 and are connected'tothe pro er terminals on the case of the lamp in the fiishion shown inFig. 1. As an ornamental feature for breakin the continuity of the rodor tube thus uti ized to support the lamp a ball B is very frequentlyused, such ball usuallyfitting over the tube and being secured bysuitable means thereon intermediate of its ends.

transform into a casing to receive the switch mechanism which has beenabove recently described. Instead, however, of sliding the ball onto acontinuous tube I make the tube into two sections and insert theballthere between, makingthe latter of two separable portions, one of whichI) bears the necessary bosses to which are fitted the ends of the tubesections; the other of WlllCll b is attached to the portion thus fixedin the electrolier structure. Firmly mounted in such fixed portion b ofthe ball 038M121 is the It is this ball that I aforesaid rotatableswitch device A, to the terminals of which are joined the respectiveends of one of the wire conductors b b, passing down through thetube 1nthe man ner above described, such wire being severed for this purpose.In the other or. detachable portion b of the ball, I mount the ratchetdevice A for rotating or actuating such switch.

Ratchet device A is quite simple in construction comprising two membersa a 1'0- tatably mounted within ball port1on b. Of said members theinnermost a is a disklike ratchet wheel, adapted in the assembledcondition of the casing to operatively engage the button of therotatable switch by virtue of projections or lugs a on its inner facedisposed so as to fit on either side of such button. These lugs areconveniently provided by simply striking up portions of the disk formingthe wheel. The other a of said members bears a pawl a that is adapted toengage ratchet wheel a to rotate the same. limit the movement ofsaidawl-bea'ring member in either direction. peripheral flange a on suchsecond member serves the double function of engaging stop a 'to thuslimit the members rotation and to retain in place a cord or preferably alight chain, one end of which is secured to. said periphery, the otherof which extends downwardly into convenient reach of persons who maydesire to operate the switch. A spiral spring a", located behind membera, is adapted to normally retain one end of flange a against stop a, thepoint of attachment of the cord to member a being such as to cause therotation efiected thereby to be against sprin af. The relativedisposition of stop a; an

the length of flange (1 is so gaged as to permit the rotation of membera through the proper angle to give the rotatable switch the particularturn requisite to effect its operation, either to break or make thecircuit which'it controls. g

In the assembled condition of the'parts just described, (Figs'2 and 3,)the detachable portion of the break ball that bears the switch actuatingmechanism last set up, is placed face down upon the fixed ortion of suchball. In this position the ugs a projecting from the exposed face ofratchet wheel a, fit on either side of the button of the switch so thatrotation of the former effects concomitant rotation of the latter. Asuitable aperture is left in the edge of the detachable ball portion ato permit the free passage therethrough of chain A which atter isaccordingly allowed to depend, as already set forth, into reach of theoperator. Assuming the switch now in the assembled "condition of theparts, just described, to be in its ofl position, if the chain bethereupon pulled'the ratchet wheel will be partially rotated until pawlbearing member is brought against stop a and a-corresponding rotatlve'movement will be given the button of the switch whereby the electriccircuit is closedand the lamp lighted. A second pull of the cord effectsa second similar rotation with the eflect of breaking the connection andsuch. operation may be performed in succession as often as may bedesired.'

It will of coursebeunderstood that the use of my improvement is notlimited to electroliers, it being immaterial whether a lamp, or othertranslating device as for A stop a is provided, adapted to aaaeaoexample an electric fan be supported from tube B. Andfor that matterwhere a cable is utilized as the supporting means instead of a tube, Istill can conveniently interpose a ball casing corresponding to breakball B to house the switch and switch actuating mechanism, see Fig. 4:.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change bein made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out-and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. The combination with a translating device; of a hollowcasing made up of two separable sections, one of said sections beingprovided at one end with means for attaching it to a support, and at theother,'with means for attaching such translating device thereto; meansmounted within the same casing section for controlling the circuit ofsaid translating device; and pendent means for actuatin said controllingmeans mounted within t e other section and separable therewith from saidfirst section.

. 2. The combination with a translating de vice; of a hollow casing-madeup of two separable sections; a tube attached to one end of one of saidsections and adapted to be attached to a support; a second tube attachedto the other end of said section and adapted to support such translatingdevice; means mounted within the same casing section for controlling thecircuit of said translating device; and pendent means for actuating saidcontrolling means mounted within the other section and separabletherewith from said first section.

, 3. The combination with a translating device; "of a' support forsuspending said de- I vice from the ceiling; a hollow oasmg breakingsaid support intermediately between its en s; said casing being made upof two sections, one fixed to said support, the other separabletherefrom; means mounted within said fixed section for controlling thecircuit of said translating device; and pendent means for actuating saidcontrolling means.

mounted within the other section and separable therewith from said firstsection.

4. In an electrolier, the combination of a tube for supporting the lampand carrying the wires thereto; a hollow casing breaking said tubeintermediately ofits ends and comprising two portions, one separablefrom the other; a rotatable'switch mounted in the fixed portion of saidcasing for controlling the circuit through said wires; two rotatablemembers mounted in the other of said portions, one of said members beinga ratchet Wheel adapted on rotation in the assembled condition of saidcasing to operate said controlling device; a pawl borne by the other ofsaid members and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel; stops adapted tolimit the movement of said pawl-bearing member; a spring normallyretaining said pawl-bearing member against one of saidstops; and a cordfor moving said member from such normal position. I

5. In an electrolier, the combination of a tube for supporting the lampand carrying the wires thereto; a hollow casing breaking said tubeintermediately of its ends and comprising two portions one separablefrom the other; a switch of the rotatable button type mounted in thefixed portion of said casing for controlling the circuit through saidwires; two rotatable members mounted in the other of said portions, oneof said members being a ratchet wheel having lugs on its face adapted toengage the button of said switch, and the other of said members beingformed with a flange extending partially around its periphery; a pawlborne by said last named member and adapted to engage said ratchetwheel; a stop adapted to engage said flange to limit the rotation ofsaid second member in either direction; a spring tending to rotate saidmember in one direction; and a cord for rotating the same inthe-opposite direction.

' Signed by me, this 6th day of Aug, 1908.

BERNARD A. STOWE.

Attested by:

HENRY J. VOGT, C. ESHLEMAN.

